Bill W.

Dean- At the risk of getting off track, I will add these comments: In my experiences with 3-channel stereo, the center channel would benefit significantly by having an improved polar pattern in the horizontal plane. When using a Lascala or Belle Klipsch as a center channel in a shallow room, there is a noticable shift in the apparent location of a soloist as you move laterally in the room, due largely to the reduction in off-axis response in the treble. A change in the listener's position results in a greater angular change relative to the center channel than the flanking speakers. For this reason, a Klipsch - engineered two - way upgrade should provide for updates to the Lascala & Belle Klipsch also (If they were ever so inclined!)

Hey Dean, I'm a little late to this party but here's my two cents worth - I would upgrade each of my sets of Klipschorns with a Klipsch-engineered, tested and measured top end for a two-way system. One of the things that attracted me to Klipsch many years ago was the low - obsolescence product design philosophy and (particularly for the Klipschorn) a stated commitment to improvements in detail allowing the owner to keep them up-to-date for a lifetime. I fully understand and appreciate that there is a legacy in the stability of the design but one could argue just as strongly that there is also a legacy in the countless improvements that have been introduced over many decades for this speaker. Let me add some perspective: I first heard Klipschorns at my bosses' house when I was 17 and was in awe. I bought that same pair when I was 18, living in a college dorm. I didn't buy my first car until I was 20 - just goes to show how important great speakers are. The first time I met PWK, I had owed them for about a year. They were an unmatched pair (1950's vintage) with different versions of the K-5 midrange horns and different crossovers and woofers in each cabinet. He explained in detail the various changes that had been made and some of the engineering tradoffs that were faced along the way. When I asked what updates should be done to my pair he surprised me by suggesting certain specific, but not all possible updates. Needless to say, I was greatly impressed by the man's character. Now 30+ years later I still greatly enjoy all my heritage speakers (21 and counting) - yeah I know, Coulter is still winning! [] I came away from that meeting with two very clear perspectives: Paul was very intolerant of casual or misinformed criticism of the performance of his company's products, yet he was philosophical about the fact that no current product, design or technology represented anything like perfection. It was clear from his comments at the time that ongoing research and development directed toward product improvement should and would take place. Dean, you have the benefit of hearing the Jubilees now as well as modern vs. modded klipschorns in your recent past. These are experiences I haven't had yet. My order for Jubilees will be placed next week. You are in a great position to compare and contrast the results of a range of different approaches. From the comments I have heard about large-format two-way systems, I think there would be considerable interest in a properly engineered, tested and measured system that is a factory- supported update. That approach would seem to be consistent with the longtime philosophy of Klipsch and provide the type of long -term product support that built the reputation and loyal following Klipsch enjoys today. Dean, thanks for a great thread. Bill W.

The K-5 horn evolved over time, as various modifications were introduced. these were identified by the suffix letter which follows the K-5. The horn shown is a K-5-D. The vanes were used at least through the later K-5-G model. The final version (K-5-J ) does not contain any vanes and was produced over several years and represents the largest production of the K-5 series. If anyone has information on other versions, it would be nice to fill in the blanks. Bill W.

Looks like they're busy turning them into those scratchy-sounding 78's some of us remember from childhood LOL! Bill W.

Sorta like running the gauntlet eh?[st][li][um] Sure has been a fun thread! Who's next Ray? Bill W.

Congratulations Dean, I have no doubt they will be worth it!I Hope to join the club too - still waiting to hear if they can do a marine model Did they give you a wait time ? Bill W.

Factory grill cloths have varied over time - -1950's Klipschorns with the K-5 midhorn had a very open- weave plastic grill cloth - The familiar grill cloth of the 1970's has a more dense weave than what was used later (my '78 khorns are clearly different than my '80 khorns) this can only be seen on close inspection. - I believe the combination of rear-mounted tweeter (no "Z" brackets) and restrictive grill cloth has a negative sonic effect. Bill W.

I really wish I could attend - This is happening during peak season at our restaurant and there is no way for me to break away for a few days.[] Someday maybe - I would sure like to tour the facilities and meet everyone at the gathering. Bill W.

Roy- Thankyou for your response. Let's pursue this possibility and see what can be done. I'll look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks, Bill btw- No charge for the demos, it will get me out of the kitchen more often

Hi bhendrix- The name of the restaurant is Natalia's. You can access our web page by visiting the Silverton Chamber of Commerce website at http.//www.silvertoncolorado.com and click on the dining guide. Let us know when you are coming- we always enjoy meeting fellow Klipschers!

Hi guys, Thanks for the responses so far. Our restaurant is located in Silverton CO, about 50 miles north of Durango in southwestern Colorado. It's where everyone goes to cool off in the summer when it gets too hot back home! At 9318' elevation we would probably hold the record for the highest Jubilees in the world - not a bad claim to fame!

As a long-time Klipsch owner, I have been following all of the various Jubilee threads with great interest. At our restaurant, we use Heresy Industrial models in the dining rooms and Pro Lascalas on the outdoor dining patio for live music on the weekends. This combination of quality sound for live and recorded music has been very well received by our customers and has helped us to grow our business significantly. We have recently completed an expansion of the outdoor dining patio and have a small ensemble stage and seating for about 80 people in a space of 28ft width x 70ft deep. I would like to install a semi-permanent sound system to handle both live and recorded music on the patio for our guests who join us for lunch, happy-hour or dinner when live music is not available. Our goal is to make a statement by having a sound quality that gets people talking and keeps them coming back! You can see where I'm going with this - why not install Jubilees on the patio? Years ago, the Klipschorn literature described a marine-grade version for marine applications. Are the Jubilees available in a version which is weather resistant? (Such an installation would provide basic protection from the elements). I would enjoy introducing the Jubilees to the 40,000 customers we serve each season!!!